Today is the day we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice–that of their own life–for our country and our freedom. A person’s life is the most precious thing they have, and yet, these men and women gave it for us and for the United States of America. May we never take our freedom for granted.

My own grandpa was wounded in Vietnam. The helicopter trying to rescue him was shot down, and those on board gave their lives–for my grandpa. There are countless stories of valor and bravery throughout our nation’s history.

Thank you.

Grandad many years ago

“Greater love hath no man than this, thata man lay down his life for his friends.”John 15:13

It blesses my mother heart as I watch our adult children with a mindset to serve. My dear dad passed away last year. During the final years of his life, my mom could no longer fully care for him alone because of the Parkinson’s Disease with which he suffered. It was her desire to keep him at home. For the last year and a half of his life, each night one of our five boys would go over to their grandparent’s house to help GiGi get Grandad to bed.

They made up a schedule for his care so they knew when it was their night. If one was away or sick, they took over for each other. They not only went in and helped, but they had smiles on their faces and encouragement at the end of an often wearisome day for my parents.

A servant’s heart begins with teaching your children the joys of serving first in your home and family and then others.

Love,
Teri

-We thought you’d enjoy some pictures of Grandad doing things with Nathan, Christopher, Joseph, John, and Jesse over the years. We miss Grandad, but we joy in knowing he’s waiting for us in Heaven. Revelation 22:1, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”-

Grandad and Christopher, a special memory fishing togetherGrandad and Nathan doing a project together.Joseph and John, buddies with GrandadJesse and GrandadWe miss you, Grandad! We can’t wait to see you again!

“My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:18

Do you desire to set your son or daughter on a path of success? Do you want them to have a set of tangible, income-producing skills? Just as you can’t flip a switch to make a person mature, skills don’t happen by themselves.

When ITonRamp began in 2011, it was Nathan’s desire to equip young people with income-producing skills. He wanted them to be prepared for entering the workplace; he wanted them to be free of debt; and he wanted them to enter marriage without financial worries. Four years later, the vision is still strong.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about options for your young person this summer. The A+ is an industry-recognized credential for desktop technicians. Simply put, the 12-week A+ course will teach the ins and outs of computer hardware, repair, maintenance, the Windows operating system, software, networking, and security. A+ comes to life as students watch a live weekly webinar, study course materials, answer questions, and apply what they’ve learned through practical hands-on experience. We’ve not only had young men and young ladies take the course, but dads, wishing to change vocations!

Nathan is an incredible teacher and mentor, having worked in the field for 20 years. He has real-life experience.

We currently have one A+ scheduled this year, and the course begins in two weeks, June 2nd, and finishes in August.

Read thoughts from two A+ students.

What would you say to other young people considering A+?

That it will be tough, but it will be well worth it. If you are planning your career, this is where you will need to start. Patrick

If you are considering a career in IT, it is extremely important. It is one of the basic foundational, certifications that you can get. It’s also helpful just in a home environment. Gabriel

“This is the day which the LORD hath made;we will rejoice and be glad in it.”Psalm 118:24

It’s fasting time again. This coming Monday, May 18th, we’ve set aside to seek Jesus through a day of fasting and prayer.

To join the prayer and fasting day, we ask that you fast and pray too. Obviously for pregnant or nursing moms or those who have health issues who can’t fast, you can choose a different fasting method. Perhaps you’d want to fast from sweets or the computer or whatever.

The fast begins after dinner Sunday evening, the 17th, and ends Tuesday morning, the 19th, at breakfast.

My mom, Teri, will spend the day fasting and praying for specific needs in the lives of ladies.

My dad, Steve, will be praying and fasting with the men.

Single young women and men are encouraged to join too!

These are the sign-up links where we ask for your name, e-mail address, and prayer request.

We will send out a reminder e-mail before the fast day and perhaps one or two during it.

Here are a few testimonies that were shared after the last fast:

This day of fasting has been a tremendous blessing already. Fasting is a relatively new discipline for me, and this is the first time I’ve ever united with others to do it. I really appreciated feeling in solidarity with other moms today. I found myself wondering about each one’s circumstances and whether or not others were finding similar challenges in their day. It is beautiful to be able to turn those thoughts into prayers as I felt moved with love for them and their families. A mom

This time of prayer and fasting has really been valuable to me.I have learned something about my own heart.I have been praying for my husband and children, and the Lord is showing me what He wants to work in my heart.He is humbling me and sanctifying me. He wants me to work on myself while waiting on Him to work in my husband and children. A mom

The fast we did in January really opened our eyes. I fasted specifically to be closer to Christ and for a financial need prior to my wife’s surgery. The very week before her surgery, the amount required up front for the surgery was met to the penny. All we could do was cry and rejoice in what God has provided. We didn’t mention the need to anyone and placed our trust in Him. Thank you for your ministry and your faithfulness to the call. A dad

I want you to know that almost without fail, the more intensely I commit to a matter in prayer (with fasting especially), there are usually two outcomes. The first is that I draw closer to God and He reveals something more of Himself to me: whether through His Word or other people or His Holy Spirit. I always enjoy this sweet time.

The other thing that happens is increased physical struggles. Whether they be at home, at work, or watching others eat food that would be particularly delicious to me … Fasting and prayer intensifies the battles of the flesh to me, sometimes the very things I am praying for seem further out of reach. The occurrences are so predictable that I conclude they must be spiritual, in order to make me quit, lose faith, divert my attention off why I am fasting & praying. It’s a very real battle, this spiritual one, and even though I know it academically, I sometimes flop in battle, not expecting it to come. Though I may not sin during this time, my mind is not on the offensive, like the soldier who after months of training and drilling to prepare for battle, is frozen when bullets are actually flying overhead and there is confusion all around. I want practice and battle hardening so I can not sit in fear being ineffective and unproductive, but pick up my weapons and wield them at the enemy when I am hungry, when I am tired, when nothing is going right, when I don’t feel like praying, when discouraging news hits. I want to have the attitude of Paul where he actually looks forward to these, for the victory is not in himself. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 A dad

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and shew thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.”
Jeremiah 33:3

Last week’s Summer with the Moodys Kindle promotion was wildly successful. Amazing numbers were downloaded, and you all put it in the top 100 free Kindle books for awhile. Thank you for your help! I’m truly grateful.

We’ve had some extra family members staying for several weeks. As well as enjoying fellowship, there were also times our children found difficult. I came upstairs one afternoon to hear my daughter reading out loud a section from Book 9 where Mitch had had a bad attitude and Max was encouraging him to think positively about the situation. My daughter was then changing the sentence so that when she read it, it was as if she was being encouraged to have a good attitude over what she was struggling with ;). Your books are a great influence!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every onethat believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”Romans 1:16